(Tested on Windows 11 24H2 Home and Professional. But I am confident the instructions will work on Windows 10 too, though I did not test them) A friend of mine recently asked my help to switch out of the Windows S Mode that came preinstalled on their Windows 11 PC. They did not want to sign in with a Microsoft account. I wrote these instructions for them, but then I thought I should post them here at Wilders as well in case someone else has a similar issue or just want to try them out. For those who don’t know, Windows S Mode is a version of Windows that only allows apps from Microsoft store to install and run, no third-party apps are allowed. It is designed to provide extra security from malicious apps, and is typically meant for those who only use their PC for basic tasks like browsing the web, watching videos, etc. It is ideal for kids or for non-techie parents/grandparents. Official Microsoft instructions require a Microsoft account, and you can only switch one way from the S Mode to regular Windows Home. The move is permanent, and you cannot switch back. With my instructions, you can freely switch back and forth between the S Mode and regular Windows Home, even Windows Professional. Important: Switching back to S Mode from regular Windows is possible only if it is a fresh install of Windows or if Windows is first reset back to factory state, with no third-party software installed. If you already have a bunch third-party software, and some of them boot with Windows, then activating S Mode will cause your Windows to freeze on startup. Here are the instructions:
